the date
Later that night, Maya was pacing in her room. As much as she could pace, given the small amount of room. She thought that her heart was going to stop at any minute. She was feeling too many things at once (anger, disappointment, jealousy, resentment) and she needed it all to stop. She needed everything to stop. Her shaking hands managed to get her phone and call Zay for the advice that she so desperately needed. She was about to say rant but then she heard, “Leave a message after the beep.”
“Zay, what the fuck?” Maya complained, her voice turning into a whine. “I’m freaking out. Where are you? Why is your phone going to voicemail. Fuck!” She almost punches a wall but opts to punch a pillow instead. “You’re the one who talked me into this throuple date thing and told me to look for signs. Well, Riley gave me the big old stop sign.” She paces around her room a little bit more. “And I’m sure if you were here, you would tell me to run right through it because this is my last chance to see if she and I will ever be more than best friends. And I'd roll my eyes and realize…” Her eyes widened instead of her anticipated rolling. “You’re right. I have to take my destiny into my own hands. If Riley expects me to leave, I have to get her to want me to stay.” A light chuckle escapes Maya’s mouth, as opposed to the usually humorless one that does. “Zay, thank you! Wherever you are, you’re a genius!”
The rest of the night, Maya planned her outfit. Instead of wearing something she would normally wear (a band t shirt, a pair of jeans, and ratty old sneakers), Maya decided that she would give this outfit a lot more effort than she would for anything else. At least 84%. She chose to wear a golden jacket, a multicolor top, a studded black skirt, and combat boots. Even though her self confidence was pretty much shot, Maya could admit that when she tried it on before she went to bed, she looked amazing. There was no way Riley wouldn’t notice.
Riley danced around her room as she was getting ready for the big date. Her parents of course thought that this was just a date with Maya, and had no clue about Lucas. She slipped into the purple dress that she had picked out with Maya earlier, slid on her gladiator heels, and applied just a little bit of lip gloss. (Lip gloss was a big deal, lip gloss meant kissing.) She squealed to herself because this wasn’t just her first date with Lucas (and Maya, but she wasn’t counting that), it was her first date ever. And everything needed to be perfect. She was brushing her hair, for the fifth time that night, when Topanga came in.
“Oh, you look beautiful,” she gushed. “My little girl. On a date with her girlfriend. I couldn’t be more proud if I tried.”
Riley smiled at her mother, albeit a painfully forced smile, because of the pang of guilt she had for lying to her parents, and everyone. But her guilt went away quickly because she remembered that she was going on a date with Lucas Friar. She applied another coat of lipstick before running out of the house and to the Nighthawk Diner, because even though Maya’s mother didn’t work there anymore, they still got free meals.
Maya stood at the door of the diner waiting for Lucas and Riley. She had gotten there earlier than they had said, so she could psych herself up for the date. She tugged at the sleeves of her golden jacket as she nervously waited for Riley to arrive. To her surprise, Riley and Lucas came in the diner at the exact same time. Is that some sort of sign? Please don’t let it be a sign. And Riley’s jaw dropped a bit when she saw Maya. Wow, Maya’s giving this like...84%. Holy shiitake mushrooms, Maya looks absolutely stunning.
“Wow,” Riley let out. “You look...amazing...Peaches.”
“Thanks.” Maya’s lips curved into a smile as she blushed deep red. “So do you.”
Riley had to remind herself that they were here on a date, as a couple, not just best friends (and Maya had to do the opposite), so she grabbed Maya’s hand and squeezed it. They turned to face each other to do the kiss that they had rehearsed. Maya hoped that Riley wouldn’t put her hand over her mouth this time. The blonde girl’s heart was beating out of her chest but it seemed like she wasn’t the only one who was nervous. So she brushed back Riley’s hair, looked at her (really looked at her), and whispered, “relax.”
Riley nodded, and they finally closed the gap between their lips. The kiss was passionate yet tender, and Maya felt like she was going to explode. They finally came up for air, after kissing for what felt like an eternity, and both of their eyes glazed over while they looked into each others.
“Woah,” Riley whispered.
“I know.”
This time there was no ‘way to sell it.’ And Lucas was behind Riley, smirking, probably with a hardon.
“Do you wanna sit down?” Riley offered.
“Sure,” they both replied simultaneously, as they all went to sit down at the table that they had reserved for tonight. And just like Riley and Maya had practiced, they sat next to each other, and Riley sat across from Lucas.
“So, what’s your deal, Huckleberry?” Maya asked Lucas.
“Huckleberry?”
“Would you prefer Ranger Rick? Or Hopalong?” she challenged.
“No, Huckleberry is fine. Your views of my Texan heritage don’t bother me,” Lucas shrugged, giving Maya a satisfied smirk. “You know, my uncle always says, be the eagle and soar above the mockingbird.”
“You’re not playing this right,” she glared at him, grabbing him by the shirt collar from across the table.
Instead of saying anything back, Lucas just stared at Maya, and his satisfied smirk turned into more a seductive one. And even Riley noticed.
“I...um...I can’t do this,” Riley said, taking her napkin out her lap and running out of the diner.
Maya and Lucas stared at each other for a good few minutes, until Lucas finally said, “I’m gonna go home, um, thanks for the dinner.”
“We didn’t even have -- you’re welcome."